AB1637 DO AFRO-DESCENDANT PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY SJOGREN SYNDROME SHARE CLINICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS? EXEMPLE FROM MARTINIQUE
Authors: L. S. Fabienne, B. Suzon, F. Moinet, K. Polomat, M. De Bandt, G. Jean-Baptiste, M. Dramé, S. Arfi, C. Deligny
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Influence of geolocation and ethnicity on pSS prevalence and phenotype has been reported <sup>[1]</sup> and black pSS appear to have higher risk of unfavorable outcome<sup>[2]</sup>. In Europe, pSS prevalence ranges from 10.2 to 92.8/100 000 Inhabitants<sup>[3]</sup>. Data on primary Sjogren's disease (pSS) in populations of sub-Saharan origin are very limited and concerns mostly Europeans and Asians. Both in Africa and the African diaspora (AAD)<sup>[4,5]</sup>, patients face significant healthcare limitations because of socio-economic disadvantage. In Martinique, a French island of the Caribbean where more than 90% of the population is of Sub-Saharan African descent, access to healthcare is easy and free for every citizen. pSS are treated in the Reference Center for rare systemic autoimmune diseases of the island. No other primary care facility treats pSS. <h3>Objectives</h3> We aim to describe pSS in an Afro-descendant population in healthcare access comparable to Europeans. <h3>Methods</h3> We performed a retrospective study of all patients followed for primary Sjögren's (pSS) in internal medicine and rheumatology at the University hospital of Martinique, only hospital on the island, between 2014 and 2016 included according to international criteria (AECG 2002, ACR/EULAR 2016). <h3>Results</h3> Among 112 patients diagnosed with pSS, 75 and 84 patients were included according to AECG 2002 and ACR/EULAR 2016 criteria respectively. Clinical and biological characteristics are presented in Table 1. In our cohort, major cumulative characteristics are a very high female proportion, young age at diagnostic and high frequency of hypergammaglobulinemia correlated with increased ESR. Considering this AECG 2002 hospital-based cohort and the retrospective aspect of the study, a minimum prevalence of pSS was calculated at 16,87/100 000 inhabitants in 2016. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Our data, shared by other AAD cohorts<sup>[4,5]</sup>, suggest that AD pSS have specific manifestations around the world as AAD Systemic Lupus erythematosus do. A higher prevalence is reported compared to that of 7.1/100 000 inhabitants of France European pSS cohort<sup>[3]</sup>. <h3>References</h3> [1]Brito-Zerón, P. et al. Influence of geolocation and ethnicity on the phenotypic expression of primary Sjögren's syndrome at diagnosis in 8310 patients: a cross-sectional study from the Big Data Sjögren Project Consortium. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 76, 1042–1050 (2017). [2]Brito-Zerón, P., Retamozo, S. &amp; Ramos-Casals, M. Phenotyping Sjögren's syndrome: towards a personalised management of the disease. Clin. Exp. Rheumatol. 36 Suppl 112, 198–209 (2018). [3]Chevet, B., Chiche, L. Y., Devauchelle-Pensec, V. &amp; Cornec, D. Y. K. How rare is primary Sjögren's syndrome? Joint Bone Spine 90, 105480 (2023). [4]Mahaman Salissou, G. Le syndrome de Sjögren: aspects épidémiologiques, diagnostiques, thérapeutiques et évolutifs au CHU Aristide-Le-Dantec de Dakar, Sénégal (2012‒2016). Bull. Société Pathol. Exot. 113, 136–142 (2020). [5]Scofield, R. H. et al. American Indians Have a Higher Risk of Sjögren's Syndrome and More Disease Activity Than European Americans and African Americans. Arthritis Care Res. 72, 1049–1056 (2020). <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.